1851 California Gold $50 - "887" $50 RE Augustus Humbert

Coin Details

Auction Record

$500,000 PR63 03-01-1980 Bowers & Ruddy

Description

The 1851 Humbert fifty-dollar piece with 887 fineness and reeded edge combines the improved gold purity with the simplified edge treatment. This variety represents one of the later production runs of 1851, incorporating both the refining improvements (887 vs. 880) and the manufacturing efficiency of reeded edges. As with all Humbert slugs, the octagonal format distinguishes these pieces from any other American coinage. The eight-sided shape was deliberately chosen to prevent confusion with any existing federal denomination and to make the pieces instantly recognizable in commercial transactions. At roughly two and a half inches across, these are physically imposing coins that would have been immediately identifiable even in a crowded merchant’s cash drawer. The 887 reeded edge variety holds particular interest for specialists studying the production sequence of Humbert’s operation. The combination of higher fineness and reeded edge indicates this was produced after both innovations had been adopted, placing it toward the end of the 1851 production timeline. This chronological positioning within a single year’s output makes the variety analysis of Humbert slugs a fascinating study in early California numismatic manufacturing.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. The 887 reeded edge combination is among the scarcer Humbert slug varieties. Fewer than 40 examples survive.

Cross References

K-10 (Kagin); PCGS #10214; NGC #31084; Augustus Humbert, U.S. Assay Office, San Francisco; 887 reeded edge